Serralves Museum, the first large-scale contemporary art
museum in Portugal, is located in the Quinta de Serralves; a large
property close to the center of Porto that includes a main house
built in the 1930's for the Count of Vizela.

The landscaped gardens designed by Siza, on the approximately 3
ha of land, preserved the most important species already existing
on the site. The public access to the Museum's ground is made at
the highest level of the terrain through an opening in the existing
wall that surrounds the property.

Photo: arcspace

The main gate gives access to a patio where the staircase and
elevator coming from the subterranean car park and the paths coming
from the different gardens also converge.

The Serralves Museum is superb without heroics,
dazzling with a supple curve to the auditorium roof, a projecting
shadow-casting fin, a window strip inserted just so, a perfect
rail, stone and tile finishes impeccably applied./Michael Sorkin

Photo: arcspace

From the patio you pass down a long, covered walkway, pass a
small ticket pavilion and an walled-in garden, to finally arrive at
the main entrance to the museum and, through an independent
entrance, the auditorium foyer.

A longitudinal axis, set in an approximately North/South
direction, takes the direction of the pre-existing paths of the
vegetable garden. The two asymmetrical wings of the main body are
generated southward; creating a courtyard between them. Another
garden, by the public access to the building, is generated between
the L-shaped volume set to the North and the central body.

Photo: arcspace

The volume of the building is defined by vertical surfaces
covered with stone or stucco; the top of these walks keep a
constant level, while the bottom accompanies the variations of the
changing ground (the variation in ground level is approximately 9
meters, which corresponds to a slope of 5,3% descending from North
to South).

Photo: arcspace

Photo: arcspace

Photo: arcspace

The reception and information desk is placed next to the Museum
entrance leading to a square double height atrium with a skylight
roof. This atrium is centered on the longitudinal and transversal
axes that define the building.

Besides functioning as the geometrical generator and centre of
the building, this main hall constitutes a distribution space from
which the public may have access to the different Museum
facilities. Internal courtyards and numerous windows permit the
visitor to remain in contact with the surrounding landscaped
park.

Suspended from the ceilings in several of the galleries are what
looks like upside down tables concealing the skylights,
air-conditioning equipment and artificial lighting. Natural light
pours over the sides, to wash the surrounding walls, and is
supplemented by artificial lighting as needed.

Photo: arcspace

The passage to the upper floor is made through stairs and
elevators, giving access to a Galleria over the main hall. From
here the public can walk to the Cafeteria, which has a dining room
for 80 people and an Esplanade overlooking the Park where meals can
also be served.

From the main hall the public also has access to the Library
foyer. This room is at the level of the terrain, prolonging itself
to the exterior through a garden. Divided into two floors, the
Library is specialized in art-related subjects. It comprises a
traditional reading-room, a deposit room, personal computers and
video screens.

Photo: arcspace

Photo: arcspace

The Auditorium can function autonomously, should the rest of the
Museum be closed to the public. It has an independent entrance and
the necessary public facilities. It is a multipurpose room,
prepared for performances of music, dancing, acting, lectures and
conferences (with the possibility of simultaneous translation), and
the projection of cinema and video. It seats approximately 290
spectators. The Book Shop and Gift Shop on the entrance level can
also be entered from the central courtyard.